MEDIA RELEASE: Advocates Across Canada Launch Call for National Long-Term Care Standards

Advocates Across Canada Launch Call for 

National Long-Term Care Standards

Ottawa/Halifax -- Health care advocates including thousands of families; residents and their substitute decision makers; care workers, professionals, nurses and their unions have come together to release a legal opinion on what national standards for long-term care should be.  

For decades, health care advocates have called for a more robust and effective federal role to ensure that we meet the needs of the elderly as Canada’s population ages. COVID-19 has laid bare the endemic and longstanding failure of many long-term care homes to provide residents with a safe and healthful environment, and with essential and high-quality care.  

While some provinces acted quickly to protect the vulnerable in congregate care settings, other provinces have failed to do so. Canadians have been horrified by accounts from the military, families, residents and staff, of the horrendous circumstances in which thousands of seniors were forced to live, and far too often, die. These systemic failures have prompted calls from across Canada for the federal government to increase funding and establish national standards for long-term care.

Federal political parties have responded by making commitments to national standards, but what they would contain is not clear.

WHAT: A lawyer representing health care advocates will be joined by families and advocates of long-term care to release a legal opinion on national standards for long-term care.

WHEN:  Monday, March 22 at 1pm ADT by Zoom. Media are invited to join by Zoom. Please email coordinator@nshealthcoalition.ca for the link and password.
The public can view the press conference at www.facebook.com/nshealthcoalition

WHO: Steven Shrybman is a partner at the law firm Goldblatt Partners LLP, and has for many years represented and provided legal advice to Canadian advocates working to defend and strengthen Canada’s medicare system. He also has been co-counsel in two landmark constitutional cases that sought, unsuccessfully, to overturn single-tier medicare in Canada.

Steven Staples, National Director of Policy & Advocacy, Canadian Health Coalition

Catherine Parkes, spokesperson, Canadians4LTC

Chris Parsons, Provincial Coordinator, Nova Scotia Health Coalition

Mary Boyd, Chair, PEI Health Coalition

Natalie Mehra, Executive Director, Ontario Health Coalition

Brianne Goertzen, Provincial Director, Manitoba Health Coalition

Sandra Azocar, Executive Director, Friends of Medicare (Alberta)

Mary Clarke, President, Health Coalition of Newfoundland & Labrador

For more information:

Chris Parsons, 902-880-8628, coordinator@nshealthcoalition.ca

Provincial Coordinator, Nova Scotia Health Coalition